Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1: Alonso's reign off to disappointing start as late penalty SAVED on Alexander-Arnold debut
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD was denied a Beautiful Day by Bono on his Real Madrid debut.
The ex-
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Trent Alexander-Arnold made his Real Madrid debut
Credit: Getty
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Xabi Alonso took charge of his first game at the Real helm
Credit: AP
But he could only look on from the bench as Los Blancos blew a chance to win it from the spot in injury-time.
Former Wolves man Ruben Neves had levelled with his own first-half penalty after Gonzalo Garcia gave Real the lead.
But VAR spotted a late foul on Fran Garcia to give Real a last-gasp opportunity to save their blushes.
TAA was given his first start by new Real boss
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And the heat was really on — as the sweltering
Miami
temperature edged towards 33 degrees.
Saudi Arabian side Al- Hilal, managed by former
the challenge
though.
And even though TAA's crucial interception on 34 minutes helped spark the move which resulted in Gonzalo Garcia's opener, there was to be no dream ending.
Neves coolly levelled slotting home from the spot on 41 minutes as Inzaghi's men were good value for an impressive point.
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Fede Valverde's dramatic late penalty was saved
Credit: Reuters
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Alonso was left gutted by Valverde's late penalty miss
Credit: DAZN
Alonso, and the thousands of
Madrid
fans here, would have enjoyed Alexander-Arnold's quiet, yet effective, debut.
He slotted in at right-back but found himself moving into midfield where he posed more of an attacking threat than fellow
Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals he's been 'waiting a long time' to join Real Madrid
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The Saudi side started superbly, creating all the best chances and having a goal chalked off before Alexander-Arnold started a free-flowing move.
The Scouser's intervention eventually set Vinicius Jr free before
Al-Hilal, however, deserved a share of the spoils and were given a way back into the game when Raul Ascencio pulled down Marcos Leonardo in the box and Neves did the rest.
Former Bournemouth stopper
Florida
conditions.
Alexander-Arnold was subbed on 64 minutes but showed enough here to be firmly in Alonso's thoughts ahead Sunday's game against Pachuca in Charlotte,
North Carolina
.
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Gonzalo Garcia fires Real Madrid into the lead
Credit: Reuters
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Real Madrid stars celebrate with Garcia
Credit: Getty
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Ruben Neves levels for Al-Hilal from the penalty spot
Credit: Getty
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Former Wolves star Neves celebrates his spot kick
Credit: Getty
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Club World Cup 2025 Guide
SOME of the world's biggest clubs are heading Stateside for a MAMMOTH Club World Cup.
Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane will be showing their skills to packed crowds across the US.
Los Blancos are favourites to lift the trophy in New York but will face stiff competition from around the globe.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament...
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Everything you need to know ahead of the Club World Cup
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
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Trent Alexander-Arnold makes debut as Real Madrid settle for Club World Cup draw with Al-Hilal
Gonzalo Garcia, stepping in for the fever-stricken Kylian Mbappe, gave Real an early lead with a composed finish, but Ruben Neves levelled from the spot before halftime as Simone Inzaghi's men showed defensive grit and enough attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents. A last-gasp missed penalty from Federico Valverde summed up a day when Real's legs, and ideas, wilted in the heat and humidity at a nearly sold-out Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. RB Salzburg and Pachuca meet in the other Group H fixture later on Wednesday. Real will next face the Mexican side on Sunday, while Al-Hilal will take on Salzburg in what could prove a decisive clash for qualification to the knockout stage. With Mbappe ruled out, it was the 21-year-old Garcia who led the line for Real and he did not disappoint, while new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold was nowhere near the level that persuaded the Spanish club to lure him from Liverpool. It was Al-Hilal, however, who burst out of the blocks, swarming around the Real penalty area with early intent � though their finishing let them down at crucial moments. In the 29th minute, Salem Al-Dawsari nearly produced a moment of magic, weaving his way into the box before Aurelien Tchouameni slid in with a crucial interception to steer the ball behind. The Saudi side thought they had taken the lead shortly after, only for their celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag. Despite the heat - and with the cheapest tickets in the stadium selling for over $160 while premium seats soared beyond $950 - a vibrant crowd kept the energy high. A much-needed 30th-minute cooling break gave Real a chance to regroup, with players draping towels over their shoulders and gulping down rehydrating drinks in the sweltering heat. The short pause worked wonders. Four minutes later, Real struck. A slick team move carved open the Al-Hilal defence, and Garcia showed composure beyond his years, delicately lifting the ball over Yassine Bounou after being teed up by Rodrygo. But Al-Hilal refused to wilt. They drew level four minutes before halftime when Ruben Neves calmly slotted home a penalty after Raul Asencio pulled back Marcos Leonardo in the area. On the stroke of halftime, Al-Dawsari went close again, firing narrowly wide after latching onto a clever pass from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to cap another flowing Al-Hilal attack. Real stepped up a gear after the restart with substitute Arda Guler's shot crashing against the bar before Bounou made a stunning reaction save to deny Garcia. A second cooling break in the 68th minute did not refresh Real and although they continued to dominate, the Al-Hilal defence held firm.
The Irish Sun
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A FIVE-DECADE sports dynasty is ending at the Los Angeles Lakers as the team is being sold for a staggering $10 billion. The Buss family is offloading their majority ownership in the team after 46 years and multiple national titles. Advertisement 7 Jeanie Buss owns the LA Lakers and is selling it for around $10 billion Credit: Getty 7 Jeanie Buss talks to LA Lakers superstar LeBron James courtside Credit: X 7 Buss' dad Jerry purchased the team in 1979, and passed it to her when he died Credit: Getty It is being purchased by LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, He is the CEO of diversified holding company TWG Global and also has stakes or majority ownership of multiple other sports franchises. Jeanie Buss, who has been the face of the family's ownership since 2013, will still continue in her role as Lakers governor. The $10 billion deal is the largest sale ever of a professional sports team in the world. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE LAKERS Walters also owns the MLB giants and World Series-winning Dodgers. He also has stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks and the Billie Jean King Cup. His portfolio also includes the Cadillac Formula One team and the Professional Women's Hockey League. Walters also has shares in Premier League soccer giants Chelsea. Advertisement Most read in Basketball The LeBron James-led Lakers have been owned by the Buss family since 1979. Patriarch Jerry Buss purchased the franchise for a relatively paltry $67.5 million at the time. LeBron James drops major retirement hint as NBA legend mulls over future at the LA Lakers That was the equivalent of around $315 million today. The move also included the Los Angeles Kings and the LA Forum. Advertisement Buss passed it down to his children when he died in 2013. His daughter Jeanie has been governor ever since. 7 She has had a highly successful tenure ever since and became the first woman to ever lead an NBA championship team. Advertisement Mark Cuban sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion. And Wyc Grousbeck offloaded the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. The Lakers have won seven NBA Finals under the Buss family's ownership. Advertisement That includes legendary teams of the past led by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They created a dynasty that inspired the hit HBO show Winning Time. 7 Buss in the arms of legendary Lakers icon Shaquille O'Neal Credit: Getty 7 Magic Johnson, Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, Kobe Bryant, and his family pose in 2017 Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 Bryant with Buss in 2011, before his tragic death in a helicopter accident Credit: Getty Walters has been a stakeholder in the Lakers since 2021. He also received a right of first refusal on the majority share of the team at the time. Lakers fans reacted with shock at the news, which was revealed on social media. Advertisement "This is a historic day," one said. "Mark Walter owns the Dodgers. One of the biggest spenders in baseball," another explained. "I'd imagine this is a good thing for the future of the Lakers too. "Deep pockets in LA now for the Luka Doncic era." Advertisement
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
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Trent Alexander-Arnold already showing signs of old class in Real Madrid shirt even if he's put a new name on the back
T RENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD was caught up in a Club World Cup clash far more dramatic than anyone could have predicted as he made his Real Madrid debut. The ex- Advertisement 12 Trent Alexander Arnold launched his Real Madrid career on the right of defence as an inverted wing-back Credit: Alamy 12 He drifted into midfield when Real had the ball Credit: Getty And the He saw Gonzalo Garcia slot a brilliant team goal to launch But former Al-Hilal were furious with a spot-kick award against Mohammed Al Qahtani when his arm went across Fran Garcia's face on the corner of the box in the 90th minute. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But ex- Meanwhile, TAA was not just in a new top, he had a new moniker on the back - simply "Trent". So was his first Real game just as straightforward? 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Early in the second half, he found himself on the edge of the box with the ball at his feet, but the killer pass just eluded him. He also appeared to operate slightly more centrally after the break as Real searched for a winner. Advertisement Defensively sound? The former Liverpool man was operating in an inverted wing-back role, which saw him largely tuck inside closer to the centre-back pairing of fellow new boy When the Spanish giants were in possession, TAA drifted into midfield and was on hand to try and penetrate a robust Al-Hilal backline. He made a couple of key interceptions as the first half wore on — including one which helped set up the opener — and looked defensively solid. 12 Alexander Arnold was straight into the thick of the action Credit: Alamy Advertisement 12 This graph shows how he never switched flanks 12 The Three Lions ace looked solid defensively Has he settled in already? Certainly looked that way. Having fellow England international With Alonso also starting afresh in the Spanish capital, everyone, including Trent, is beginning with a clean slate. Advertisement Any surprises/anything new? Just having 'TRENT' on the back of his shirt was a new look for the 26-year-old. At Liverpool, and for England, the Scouser was the main man for free-kicks. But when one was given on 57 minutes, it was Turkish ace Arda Güler who stepped up—and subsequently failed to deliver. His race was run after 64 minutes, with Alonso keen to bring on fresh legs, but the sparks from his debut were promising enough. What did he say about it? "It's an incredible day for me to make my Real Madrid debut. It's something almost every player dreams of so to be able to achieve it is huge for me. Advertisement "Of course, there's some disappointment in there because we haven't won the game. It's the mentality you need to have as a Real Madrid player is to want and expect to win every game that you play in. 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I am sure we will do that going into the next game." And on how long he's been learning Spanish... "Not too long. A couple of months. It was something important that I had to do. I want to adapt and give myself the best start possible going to a new country, new city and new team. Advertisement "It is important to show the intent that I want to embrace the culture, immerse myself in it and try to adapt as best as possible." 12 Alexander-Arnold looked at home in a clash that was also Real legend Xabi Alonso's first game back at the club as manager Credit: Getty 12 In contrast Bellingham was largely anonymous for the Spanish giants Credit: Getty 12 Advertisement
